At our conference this weekend, some of the girls in our group got outraged because someone in their breakout session was complaining about how "privileged" they were. This really made me think about life and the things we have in Iowa, at school, and out here in Denver. I got thinking about the opportunities that we have been given. We all go a private liberal arts school, are getting a good education, and are blessed enough to (90% of us) study abroad and spend a semester in Denver. I understand why they were upset at being called privileged, but really, aren't we? I look at everything I have in my life and wonder, how are we NOT privileged? We were born into families that live in the United States. We can go to school where we want, believe in whatever religion we want, travel where we want, and be a significant other to almost whoever we want. How are we not privileged? We all come from families that are not split or single parent (I believe), we have money to spend, clean water to drink, friends to hang out with, families that love us, people who do not judge us badly for the color of our skin or the way we look, and we have the freedom to worship a higher power.
I went to church this morning, and I got thinking about why I believe in what I do. Why do I like certain churches and not other? Why do things bother me? We went to this church called "Thrive church." The pastor did not really give a message, and walked around praying and kissing people and dancing around.. People clapped, people raised their arms, they shouted "Amen." It was something I totally wasn't prepared for and was not comfortable with. I didn't really take anything out of it and left wanting to think further about my faith. Based on the [privileged] way I was raised, I was like half way traditional church services, a message/sermon, and no dancing (unless it's Easter Sunday). I have since come to enjoy some sense of contemporary service, but not this "Southern" type service. I want to continue to explore churches and hope to find one that I like and really get to know the congregation and feel welcome. This is the third church I've been to and am starting to loose faith. There were things that I couldn't over look about each of these churches.
We are so privileged to live in a country where we have the option to try these churches and worship whatever higher power we want. I have the privilege to believe in what I want. Going to Wartburg, I was blessed and privileged enough to participate in Campus ministry. It was something that grounded me when life got rough. I never realized what it meant to me until all of a sudden it isn't there. I can't go and get my God Fix every Monday Wednesday Friday. I have to make an effort to get to church in the morning rather than walking 15 feet for chapel. I didn't have a choice on what was preached, but now that I do, I have to actually think about what I believe in and what I want from a church.
And the best part is that I live in a country where I can do that and decide what I believe in.
We are incredibly privileged.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Things i have forgotten about.
So, I realized I forgot some stuff in my last post. Mainly, The Point In Time Homeless Initiative survey. My Monday and Tuesday night was spent at training and an emergency shelter. The Denver Road Home initiative was trying to measure homelessness and reasons that people were homeless, were they were staying, the resources they were accessing, etc. SO, we were volunteered to help. Monday night we were at training and Tuesday night we went to Crossroads Salvation Army emergency/transitional housing shelter. It was sooo eye opening to see these homeless men and talk to them and hear their stories.
Yesterday, Friday, and Today, Saturday, we went to the Downstream Neighbor Water Symposium. Friday night we watched a movie called "Journey to the Universe" and it was eye opening, and kind of touched on how everything is affected by water. We did not stay for the keynote speaker and instead went to an a play based on Shakespears Othello. It was supplemented with a real life dialogue from a domestic abuse cause which made it very powerful and sort of depressing.
Today, we went back to the symposium for the break out sessions. I went to one about Bolivia and their water crisis and then one about fracking. Both were interesting, but did not really spark any need for change. I do sort of want to learn more about fracking though to see why some people are soo passionate. Evidently, it is very serious!
I have been struggling this week with some homesickness. I miss the people at Wartburg, but not the place. I love the city, love the mountains, love my internship, but miss all of my friends at Wartburg and my friends from home. It is so strange only having a few friends here to rely on. We are together so much that it is getting to the point where we don't really want to hang out anymore. It's a struggle every day. But, as I find myself more and more wanting to explore I find new parts of the city that I didn't know existed. Finding new coffee shops, new bakeries, new places that i would LOVE to live. I found places that I want to keep going back to just because it was so peaceful being there.
Today's adventure took me to a neighborhood called Lo-Hi. Lower Highlands is built on a hill, so I definitely got some exercise. To get there, you go down the 16th street mall and keep going. Literally. Across 3 pedestrian bridges and up a hill and boom! There you are. It had this old fashion ice cream shop and a nice bakery where I spent some time talking to the owners mom. It was well worth the sun burn and walking up hill.
Tonight is just chilling, movie and wine and some light homework. Tomorrow, I think I am headed to The International House of Prayer with someone and then out to Red Rocks Amphitheater with someone. I am really looking forward to both things. Red Rocks is supposed to be amazing and I cannot wait to be in God's amazing beauty again.
Although I miss you all, I still like letters :)
Amanda Woodin
285 S. Lincoln Street Apt 4
Denver, Colorado, 80209
Yesterday, Friday, and Today, Saturday, we went to the Downstream Neighbor Water Symposium. Friday night we watched a movie called "Journey to the Universe" and it was eye opening, and kind of touched on how everything is affected by water. We did not stay for the keynote speaker and instead went to an a play based on Shakespears Othello. It was supplemented with a real life dialogue from a domestic abuse cause which made it very powerful and sort of depressing.
Today, we went back to the symposium for the break out sessions. I went to one about Bolivia and their water crisis and then one about fracking. Both were interesting, but did not really spark any need for change. I do sort of want to learn more about fracking though to see why some people are soo passionate. Evidently, it is very serious!
I have been struggling this week with some homesickness. I miss the people at Wartburg, but not the place. I love the city, love the mountains, love my internship, but miss all of my friends at Wartburg and my friends from home. It is so strange only having a few friends here to rely on. We are together so much that it is getting to the point where we don't really want to hang out anymore. It's a struggle every day. But, as I find myself more and more wanting to explore I find new parts of the city that I didn't know existed. Finding new coffee shops, new bakeries, new places that i would LOVE to live. I found places that I want to keep going back to just because it was so peaceful being there.
Today's adventure took me to a neighborhood called Lo-Hi. Lower Highlands is built on a hill, so I definitely got some exercise. To get there, you go down the 16th street mall and keep going. Literally. Across 3 pedestrian bridges and up a hill and boom! There you are. It had this old fashion ice cream shop and a nice bakery where I spent some time talking to the owners mom. It was well worth the sun burn and walking up hill.
Tonight is just chilling, movie and wine and some light homework. Tomorrow, I think I am headed to The International House of Prayer with someone and then out to Red Rocks Amphitheater with someone. I am really looking forward to both things. Red Rocks is supposed to be amazing and I cannot wait to be in God's amazing beauty again.
Although I miss you all, I still like letters :)
Amanda Woodin
285 S. Lincoln Street Apt 4
Denver, Colorado, 80209
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Weeks 3 and 4
Wow! It is so hard to believe that tomorrow marks the 1 month anniversary of leaving Iowa and coming to Denver! Boy how time flies!
This last week has been a whirl wind! Lets see what all I can remember has happened in the last week!
Last Saturday, I spent the day lounging around and catching up on some cleaning and football watching. Matt and I went out the a restaurant to watch the Broncos game which turned out to not be very exciting.
Sunday was another pretty chill game. I went and walked around the major street by our house and rode a bus around. It was pretty chill. I'm learning to like relaxing.
Monday was Martin Luther King Jr. Day and we were part of the Marade here in Denver. Here is my journal reflection from that day:
This last week has been a whirl wind! Lets see what all I can remember has happened in the last week!
Last Saturday, I spent the day lounging around and catching up on some cleaning and football watching. Matt and I went out the a restaurant to watch the Broncos game which turned out to not be very exciting.
Sunday was another pretty chill game. I went and walked around the major street by our house and rode a bus around. It was pretty chill. I'm learning to like relaxing.
Monday was Martin Luther King Jr. Day and we were part of the Marade here in Denver. Here is my journal reflection from that day:
Wow. Incredible. Moving. Inspiring. Amazing. So many words come to mind when I think back to the events of the last 6 days in relation to Martian Luther King Jr. week. For me, it started on Tuesday of this week with the Humanitarian awards and symphony concert. I was not at all sure what to think going into it, and thought it would be a boring night at the symphony as I am not a huge concert person. But when I sat down and the ceremony started, I was amazed. The integration of the awards and the concert in addition to the slideshow was empowering. I felt like going out and changing the world. I was moved by the whole event and reminded why we celebrate. So often growing up in Iowa, we do not do very much to commemorate. I am so used to taking a day off. Instead, today was a day on. The marade this morning was so empowering. I did not do much marching with the group, but instead enjoyed time wandering through the crowd and talking with people. It was so inspiring to see 30,000 people marching together for peace, unity, and equality. People marching for different political reasons, for personal reasons, for whatever reason, we all marched together. We marched together for a common cause. The ‘day on’ was a day of remembrance, a day to see how far we have come. It was totally different from just doing a service project at Wartburg. That is all good, but to me, it wouldn’t hold any meaning. It was another day of service, something I did on a common occurrence. But today, in Denver, the MLK day activities reminded me where we are from, and why we need equality. Even marching in the parade, I heard a Caucasian man, when talking to an African-American man, say “your people.” We were all marching, yet there was not straight equality. All the different groups were marching, yet they didn’t seem to be intermingling with each other. Why, if marching for a cause, were more people not intermingling and spreading the word or equality?
The most inspiring thing though, was seeing the thousands of people marching to reach this car and seeing the people lining the streets supporting us, even if not marching. This was an MLK day that I will never forget. An event, a week, I will cherish and remember. It will shape my actions and my thoughts and empower change in me. It has moved me, inspired me, and amazed me at how well the residents of Denver can come together for a good cause and change the community in which they live in.
Tuesday-Thursday I was back at work. My task for last week was working on the demographics survey for our Dream House Raffle and working on a history project for my supervisor. This consumer my week as I read back stories, talked to the first executive directors son, and some other people from the company. Also last week, we continued to work the annual report. On Thursday, my supervisor, Rick, and I presented the history presentation. We were expecting 3 people and got about 30. It was so rewarding. I don't think we really did much the rest of the day.
Friday, we had class in the morning again and then I went down to Coors Field (the baseball stadium) and took a tour of it. It was absolutely amazing and I very much enjoyed it.
Saturday, I went with some alumni for my first alumni event (we all do two) to a wine tasting. First, they took us to brunch at a place called the delectable egg. It was absolutely delicious. The wine tasting was also very good and we got to try some very good, expensive wine. Saturday night, Matt, Sarah and I went out for a couple of drinks and time to just unwind.
Sunday Sarah and I went to church, and then I spent the day unwinding and doing some homework before watching football and making some more Hamburger Cheese dip for Sarah Matt and I to enjoy during the game. I'm glad to say that both teams I was cheering for won!
This week at work, I worked on our Raffle. It launched on Monday and we have sold about 1,100 tickets already! Only 35,000 more to go! i was comparing credit card numbers to make sure they all matched, ran reports, and wrote thank you notes to people who bought more than three tickets. I also worked some more on the survey in order to get it up and ready to test today. All went off without a hitch! It was such an awesome week. Everyone was super high stressed, so everything was funny, and we all got along really well. The raffle is super stressful, and we are running low on money for market research, but i think it will work out. The supervisors are super excited about conducting market research.
So I think that catches us up to today. I will try to keep this updated a little more. Pictures are on Snap fish and the link is here: Denver Pics!
Tuesday-Thursday I was back at work. My task for last week was working on the demographics survey for our Dream House Raffle and working on a history project for my supervisor. This consumer my week as I read back stories, talked to the first executive directors son, and some other people from the company. Also last week, we continued to work the annual report. On Thursday, my supervisor, Rick, and I presented the history presentation. We were expecting 3 people and got about 30. It was so rewarding. I don't think we really did much the rest of the day.
Friday, we had class in the morning again and then I went down to Coors Field (the baseball stadium) and took a tour of it. It was absolutely amazing and I very much enjoyed it.
Saturday, I went with some alumni for my first alumni event (we all do two) to a wine tasting. First, they took us to brunch at a place called the delectable egg. It was absolutely delicious. The wine tasting was also very good and we got to try some very good, expensive wine. Saturday night, Matt, Sarah and I went out for a couple of drinks and time to just unwind.
Sunday Sarah and I went to church, and then I spent the day unwinding and doing some homework before watching football and making some more Hamburger Cheese dip for Sarah Matt and I to enjoy during the game. I'm glad to say that both teams I was cheering for won!
This week at work, I worked on our Raffle. It launched on Monday and we have sold about 1,100 tickets already! Only 35,000 more to go! i was comparing credit card numbers to make sure they all matched, ran reports, and wrote thank you notes to people who bought more than three tickets. I also worked some more on the survey in order to get it up and ready to test today. All went off without a hitch! It was such an awesome week. Everyone was super high stressed, so everything was funny, and we all got along really well. The raffle is super stressful, and we are running low on money for market research, but i think it will work out. The supervisors are super excited about conducting market research.
So I think that catches us up to today. I will try to keep this updated a little more. Pictures are on Snap fish and the link is here: Denver Pics!
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Week 3
Wow. It is so hard to believe that we have been here 2.5 weeks already. It has been so incredible being here, that I have neglected, in some part, keeping people updated on my life. So, here it is Saturday, and I am just lounging around being lazy and have time to update people on my life.
Last weekend, we were in Leadville, Colorado. It was so amazing. It is this quaint little town that is the highest incorporated town in the lower 48. It has 14 peaks within something like 4 miles. We left Denver on Friday night to head to Leadville with a stop in Idaho Springs for dinner at Tommy Knockers. Idaho Springs was home to a huge gold rush at some time. (Really informative, I know.) After a nice group dinner, we headed upwards to Leadville. Minus being a little nauseous due to ups and downs and winding around, we got to Leadville to a clear sky and no snow. We got an introduction from a very firm hostel owner about the rules, made some plans for the next morning, and then had some group "bonding time." It included doing some sort of silly exercise to get to know people in the group, and then headed to bed.
Saturday morning, we had a nice breakfast of pancakes, eggs, hash browns, coffee, and orange juice. I spent some time just relaxing as I hadn't really slept the night before before heading out to walk around town. Kim, Nicole, Britnee, Sarah, and I headed down the hill to walk around town and in and out of stores. We found some nice antique stores, met a nice lady at the Visitors Center, had a nice lunch at the old Saloon (with some shuffle board and a crazy wacko dog), then continued our walk. We took lots of stops to take pictures and just had a good time. About 2/2:30 we went back to the hostel to drop our stuff off and ended up staying. We watched "Million Dollar Baby" (suuuuper sad) and just hung out. We had a nice dinner (I think it was pork chops and apple sauce) and then did some more group bonding. After that, a can load of us headed out to go ice skating, but only 4 of us ended up skating. It was incredibly fun to skate under the lights as the snow fell. Afterwards, the whole group went out for some drinks.
Coming back Sunday, we relaxed during the afternoon after a super long, frighting trip back. Matt and I went out to watch the Broncos game (GO BRONC GO!).
Monday brought a whirl wind week in Denver. I had class from 8 am until about 11 then headed downtown. I found a nice hometown pizza place for a Cal-zone, then headed to Barnes and Nobel to do some work. After getting kicked off the internet (half an hour limit), i went over to Starbucks. I checked my email and found two super exciting emails.
Firstly, I took second place in the Library's Annotated Bibliography Contest that I entered last semester! I won a Wartburg Blanket and get my name put up some place!
Secondly, I had an email from my advisor asking if I would be interested in entering my senior analytic paper into a conference. She selects 3-5 students for it from fall semester and I was one selected! The conference is in April in Texas and completely paid for (minus food) by the school.
After getting this work done, I came back to the apartment and I'm pretty sure I just chilled Monday night.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday I worked all day and continued to fall in love with my internship. I worked on a survey to collect demographics from the Dream House Giveaway Raffle, started to work on a power point for a presentation for my supervisor, wrote up a volunteer newsletter, wrote up a call for volunteers, sat in on meetings, and more that I just don't remember. PLUS Wednesday was DOG DAY and penney came :) penney and i are becoming good friends :) And I just saw that on Tuesday, I get to go tour the 3.2 million dollar dream house! I am so excited!
Tuesday night, a couple other people and I went to a symphony concert and humanitarian awards. It was one of the most amazing, influential things I have ever been to. They had a slide show going behind the symphony about the civil rights movements. At the end, they had a kids choir come out and sing We Shall Over Come/ Thanks Be to God. It was one of the most amazing things EVER.
Wednesday night was spent just hanging out. It snowed, so buses ran late all day. Thursday, I found someone with flour in the building and made some brownies that are pretty much now gone because they were HEAVENLY.
Friday, I slept in thanks to no classes! Then went downtown to a foodtruck meetup, and then headed for the library. I did some research for work, and then revised my CAP paper for submission to conference, wrote an essay for class, and continued with some other school work. I then came home, and Matt, Sarah, Nicole, and I looked up bowling prices, and then headed out around 7 for dinner at a Mexican Restaurant and went bowling.
Overall, the week has been busy, but good. I am learning my way around and loving everything about the city. I am learning to adjust and figure out when I want to go out and have fun and be adventurous, and when to just stay in. I'm learning to love the city life and public transportation. I can see myself living in a city after college. People are super nice and helpful and not very much scary at all.
I am working on trying to upload pictures to some public album like snapfish or shutterfly or photobucket or something, but there are pictures on Facebook if were friends. Go creep them up :) (To view pictures, please visit : Denver Pictures )
Anyway, I think that should update you on the last week. Just chilling today, getting addicted to Gilmore Girls thanks to my roommate, and then going out tonight to watch the Broncos game with the locals :).
Want to send letters? Send anything you wants via USPS
Amanda Woodin
285 S. Lincoln Street Apt 4
Denver, Colorado, 80209
Also, just to make this post even longer, an update on my bucket list :
Last weekend, we were in Leadville, Colorado. It was so amazing. It is this quaint little town that is the highest incorporated town in the lower 48. It has 14 peaks within something like 4 miles. We left Denver on Friday night to head to Leadville with a stop in Idaho Springs for dinner at Tommy Knockers. Idaho Springs was home to a huge gold rush at some time. (Really informative, I know.) After a nice group dinner, we headed upwards to Leadville. Minus being a little nauseous due to ups and downs and winding around, we got to Leadville to a clear sky and no snow. We got an introduction from a very firm hostel owner about the rules, made some plans for the next morning, and then had some group "bonding time." It included doing some sort of silly exercise to get to know people in the group, and then headed to bed.
Saturday morning, we had a nice breakfast of pancakes, eggs, hash browns, coffee, and orange juice. I spent some time just relaxing as I hadn't really slept the night before before heading out to walk around town. Kim, Nicole, Britnee, Sarah, and I headed down the hill to walk around town and in and out of stores. We found some nice antique stores, met a nice lady at the Visitors Center, had a nice lunch at the old Saloon (with some shuffle board and a crazy wacko dog), then continued our walk. We took lots of stops to take pictures and just had a good time. About 2/2:30 we went back to the hostel to drop our stuff off and ended up staying. We watched "Million Dollar Baby" (suuuuper sad) and just hung out. We had a nice dinner (I think it was pork chops and apple sauce) and then did some more group bonding. After that, a can load of us headed out to go ice skating, but only 4 of us ended up skating. It was incredibly fun to skate under the lights as the snow fell. Afterwards, the whole group went out for some drinks.
Coming back Sunday, we relaxed during the afternoon after a super long, frighting trip back. Matt and I went out to watch the Broncos game (GO BRONC GO!).
Monday brought a whirl wind week in Denver. I had class from 8 am until about 11 then headed downtown. I found a nice hometown pizza place for a Cal-zone, then headed to Barnes and Nobel to do some work. After getting kicked off the internet (half an hour limit), i went over to Starbucks. I checked my email and found two super exciting emails.
Firstly, I took second place in the Library's Annotated Bibliography Contest that I entered last semester! I won a Wartburg Blanket and get my name put up some place!
Secondly, I had an email from my advisor asking if I would be interested in entering my senior analytic paper into a conference. She selects 3-5 students for it from fall semester and I was one selected! The conference is in April in Texas and completely paid for (minus food) by the school.
After getting this work done, I came back to the apartment and I'm pretty sure I just chilled Monday night.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday I worked all day and continued to fall in love with my internship. I worked on a survey to collect demographics from the Dream House Giveaway Raffle, started to work on a power point for a presentation for my supervisor, wrote up a volunteer newsletter, wrote up a call for volunteers, sat in on meetings, and more that I just don't remember. PLUS Wednesday was DOG DAY and penney came :) penney and i are becoming good friends :) And I just saw that on Tuesday, I get to go tour the 3.2 million dollar dream house! I am so excited!
Tuesday night, a couple other people and I went to a symphony concert and humanitarian awards. It was one of the most amazing, influential things I have ever been to. They had a slide show going behind the symphony about the civil rights movements. At the end, they had a kids choir come out and sing We Shall Over Come/ Thanks Be to God. It was one of the most amazing things EVER.
Wednesday night was spent just hanging out. It snowed, so buses ran late all day. Thursday, I found someone with flour in the building and made some brownies that are pretty much now gone because they were HEAVENLY.
Friday, I slept in thanks to no classes! Then went downtown to a foodtruck meetup, and then headed for the library. I did some research for work, and then revised my CAP paper for submission to conference, wrote an essay for class, and continued with some other school work. I then came home, and Matt, Sarah, Nicole, and I looked up bowling prices, and then headed out around 7 for dinner at a Mexican Restaurant and went bowling.
Overall, the week has been busy, but good. I am learning my way around and loving everything about the city. I am learning to adjust and figure out when I want to go out and have fun and be adventurous, and when to just stay in. I'm learning to love the city life and public transportation. I can see myself living in a city after college. People are super nice and helpful and not very much scary at all.
I am working on trying to upload pictures to some public album like snapfish or shutterfly or photobucket or something, but there are pictures on Facebook if were friends. Go creep them up :) (To view pictures, please visit : Denver Pictures )
Anyway, I think that should update you on the last week. Just chilling today, getting addicted to Gilmore Girls thanks to my roommate, and then going out tonight to watch the Broncos game with the locals :).
Want to send letters? Send anything you wants via USPS
Amanda Woodin
285 S. Lincoln Street Apt 4
Denver, Colorado, 80209
Also, just to make this post even longer, an update on my bucket list :
Eat at the Tilted KiltDONE Dec 31, 2011Eat at the mellow mushroomDONE Jan 1, 2012- Tour the capitol
- Buy something from Tattered Covers Bookstore
- Visit the Denver Art Museum
- Go to the Celestial tea museum in Boulder
- Eat at D Bar Deserts
- Visit the Denver Mint
- Take a jog around Washington Park
Tour the Performing Arts Center DowntownDONE Jan 10, 2012- Visit Rocky Mountain National Park
- Visit the Falling Rock Tap House
- See the Molly Brown House Museum
- Drink at Jacksons
- Visit the University of Denver
- Go to Breckenridge Brewery
Write a Paper at the Denver Public LibraryDONE Jan 13, 2012- Attend a service at a Mega Church
Walk LoDoDONE Jan 8, 2012Walk through Union StationDONE JAN 8, 2012- Attend a Murder Mystery dinner show
- Tour Sports Authority Field
- Drink coffee at a local coffee shop
- Walk the entire length of 16th street
- Red Rocks Amphitheatre
- Visit the exhibits at the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library
- Visit the Buffalo Bill Museum
- Tour Coors Field
- Go to Zoo
- Go to Dazzle restaurant
Find the Denver Cupcake TruckDone Jan 13, 2012- Strike up a conversation with a Homeless Person
- Strike up a conversation with the occupy protestors
- Buy a piece of Broncos Clothing
Attend a performance at the Denver Performing Arts CenterDONE Jan 10, 2012
Monday, January 9, 2012
First week and Leadville
I started my internship last Wednesday and can honestly now say that I am super excited to be working at the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Denver at their program support center. Since arriving in Denver, life has been a whirlwind. Including the first to days at BGCMD. The first day was pretty boring and basic. Lots of reading and meeting people who I don't remember but they like to pop into my office (right next to the president) and say hi. I know about 3 peoples names. Karen, the IT lady, Erin, my supervisor, and Lauren, the social media lady who I will work closely with. I worked on a social media guide for them last week planning their facebook and twitter updates through the end of the month, and this week will start on a survey and working on stuff for the Denver Dream Home Raffle that I will be working with. Lastly, I will be writing (i think) their newsletters to donors and volunteers! I am super excited. Also, I am looking to work at some of the clubs for my Community Engagement Project I have to do for one of my classes! Busy, busy busy!
This past weekend, the group headed up into the mountains for a weekend retreat in Leadville, CO, the highest incorporated city in the Continental US. I spent Saturday shopping, walking around, taking pictures, watching a sad movie, and ice skating before going out with some of the other people staying at the hostel to a local bar for a ping pong and pool tournament. The other huge group at the hostel was some guys from the Army skiing for the weekend. There were 13 of them and 14 of us, and 12 of us went out, so it worked pretty well to team up! My partner Dan and I ran the ping pong for about 7 games before we got beat 11-9. We then almost beat the raining pool champions but lost on the 8 ball. Anyway, it was a fun weekend skating and hanging out and chilling and watching the snow fall. Pictures of the weekend are on Facebook.
I have a small stack of letters and post cards to go out today when I see a mail box, so maybe you will be on the list?!? If not, let me know if you want a post card and I can mail you one :)
My address is
Amanda Woodin
285 S. Lincoln Street Apt #4
Denver, Colorado, 80209
We can only get things through US post office (no Fed Ex or UPS) so please send letters! I like letters!
And in other big news non- Denver related:
I got second place in the Wartburg Library's Annotated Bibliography contest winning a Wartburg Blanket and a photo on the wall.
Also, I was selected at one of 4 senior business majors to submit my senior analytic research paper to a conference in Texas in April! Woo hoo! Please pray for guidance in working on my paper and in the submitting process!
This past weekend, the group headed up into the mountains for a weekend retreat in Leadville, CO, the highest incorporated city in the Continental US. I spent Saturday shopping, walking around, taking pictures, watching a sad movie, and ice skating before going out with some of the other people staying at the hostel to a local bar for a ping pong and pool tournament. The other huge group at the hostel was some guys from the Army skiing for the weekend. There were 13 of them and 14 of us, and 12 of us went out, so it worked pretty well to team up! My partner Dan and I ran the ping pong for about 7 games before we got beat 11-9. We then almost beat the raining pool champions but lost on the 8 ball. Anyway, it was a fun weekend skating and hanging out and chilling and watching the snow fall. Pictures of the weekend are on Facebook.
I have a small stack of letters and post cards to go out today when I see a mail box, so maybe you will be on the list?!? If not, let me know if you want a post card and I can mail you one :)
My address is
Amanda Woodin
285 S. Lincoln Street Apt #4
Denver, Colorado, 80209
We can only get things through US post office (no Fed Ex or UPS) so please send letters! I like letters!
And in other big news non- Denver related:
I got second place in the Wartburg Library's Annotated Bibliography contest winning a Wartburg Blanket and a photo on the wall.
Also, I was selected at one of 4 senior business majors to submit my senior analytic research paper to a conference in Texas in April! Woo hoo! Please pray for guidance in working on my paper and in the submitting process!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Denver Bucket List
My Bucket List for Denver:
Lots to do. I don't think I will get it all done, but we shall see.
Eat at the Tilted KiltDONE Dec 31, 2011Eat at the mellow mushroomDONE Jan 1, 2011- Tour the capitol
- Buy something from Tattered Covers Bookstore
- Visit the Denver Art Museum
- Go to the Celestial tea museum in Boulder
- Eat at D Bar Deserts
- Visit the Denver Mint
- Take a jog around Washington Park
- Tour the Performing Arts Center Downtown
- Visit Rocky Mountain National Park
- Visit the Falling Rock Tap House
- See the Molly Brown House Museum
- Drink at Jacksons
- Visit the University of Denver
- Go to Breckenridge Brewery
- Write a Paper at the Denver Public Library
- Attend a service at a Mega Church
- Walk LoDo
- Walk through Union Station
- Attend a Murder Mystery dinner show
- Tour Sports Authority Field
- Drink coffee at a local coffee shop
- Walk the entire length of 16th street
- Red Rocks Amphitheatre
- Visit the exhibits at the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library
- Visit the Buffalo Bill Museum
- Tour Coors Field
- Go to Zoo
- Go to Dazzle restaurant
- Find the Denver Cupcake Truck
- Strike up a conversation with a Homeless Person
- Strike up a conversation with the occupy protestors
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Brief Update
Monday marked the first day of class for everyone. Those students taking just the LS course met first, and then the interns met to go over syllabi. The semester will be a lot of work for everyone, but also one in which we can all learn a lot, grow, and explore.
Tuesday marked the first day of internships/practicum’s/ student teaching for most people. Everyone seems to have found their placements okay, and had an okay day. My internship started today, and I have to say, I am SUPER excited. I was a little skeptical at first, but getting there and meeting the people and hearing about the projects I will be working on gets me super pumped up. Plus, I got to go to a couple of the Boys and Girls Clubs and play with kids. And who doesn’t love playing with kids?
The apartments are pretty quiet tonight. It seems to be a pretty chill night as I hear the hum of my humidifier, and the sound of the cars passing outside my window. Denver is this incredible city that has so much to offer and there is always something to do. As my supervisor drove me around today to different clubs, I kept seeing parts of town that I wanted to go back to. I kept thinking of MORE things to add to the list of things that I wanted to do. Speaking of things to do, I better get off the computer and get busy with homework and fun and whatever other trouble I can manage to get myself in to J
That’s all for now! We are headed to Leadville, CO, this weekend, the highest incorporated city in the US, so maybe there will be an update about that next week.
(this isnt too detailed because its for the program blog and i dont really want to add to it.. SORRY!)
Sunday, January 1, 2012
New Years and Denver Struggles
Happy New Year Everyone! Yesterday, to celebrate, we went to Sam's Club in the morning for some grocery shopping. Got enough groceries to hopefully last a month or two or three. We hung out in the afternoon, and then made plans to go downtown that night. A group of 7 of us ended up at the Tilted Kilt bar and restaurant. After putting out names in for an hour and a half wait, we grabbed a couple drinks and then were able to sit and enjoy a nice meal that actually came out pretty quickly. We were going to stay for the fireworks, but a few of us had had enough of the big crowds and headed out about 1015 for what would become an hour and a half bus ride home. But, it was a nice night and I enjoyed the fireworks from the comfort of my apartment.
This morning, I find myself struggling. I want to go out and explore the city, but no one else seems to want to. I want to go walk around the neighborhood, but no one seems to want to. People are busy hanging out with significant others, or friends that they know in town. No one seems to want to go exploring, so I find myself with this inner struggle. Do I go out on my own (I have an unlimited bus pass for the month) and brave the cold, or do I stay in and sit around the apartment in the warmth. It's been cold the last few days so I've been hesitant to go out. I think that once people get into their internships and practicums and student teaching they might want to go explore more, and people are still adjusting, but we shall see.
Next weekend the group is heading up to Leadville (another mile higher than Denver). Leadville is the highest incorporated city in the United States. We will be staying at a hostel and just hanging out. We can go skiiing, or snowshoeing or snow mobiling. Or just hang out at the hostel. It sounds like I will just be hanging out. There is a small downtown area that has some cafes that we may be able to go hang out at or shop in, so we shall see.
Overall though, I am enjoying Denver. Looking forward to starting my internship on Wednesday for something to do. Got my bus route planned. Easier to get there than get back as I will have to wait for the bus, but sounds like some time to get some reading done or something.
This morning, I find myself struggling. I want to go out and explore the city, but no one else seems to want to. I want to go walk around the neighborhood, but no one seems to want to. People are busy hanging out with significant others, or friends that they know in town. No one seems to want to go exploring, so I find myself with this inner struggle. Do I go out on my own (I have an unlimited bus pass for the month) and brave the cold, or do I stay in and sit around the apartment in the warmth. It's been cold the last few days so I've been hesitant to go out. I think that once people get into their internships and practicums and student teaching they might want to go explore more, and people are still adjusting, but we shall see.
Next weekend the group is heading up to Leadville (another mile higher than Denver). Leadville is the highest incorporated city in the United States. We will be staying at a hostel and just hanging out. We can go skiiing, or snowshoeing or snow mobiling. Or just hang out at the hostel. It sounds like I will just be hanging out. There is a small downtown area that has some cafes that we may be able to go hang out at or shop in, so we shall see.
Overall though, I am enjoying Denver. Looking forward to starting my internship on Wednesday for something to do. Got my bus route planned. Easier to get there than get back as I will have to wait for the bus, but sounds like some time to get some reading done or something.
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